Silo-press



F. M. C. USHER.

SILO PRESS.

APPLlCATiON FILED APR..5 I920.

Patented Feb. 8, 1921.

JhMO/S W0 War FRANCIS LI. C. USHER, OF FULTON, KENTUCKY.

SILO-PRESS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 8, 1921.

Application filed April 5, 1920. Serial No. 371,390.

ton, in the county of Fulton and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Silo-Presses, of

which the following is a specification.

his invention relates to silo presses, more particularly it belongs in the class of silos of or linary construction and operation, and provid d with the usual vertical series of doors for the introduction and removal of the. fodder and ensilage. In addition this inventi 'n is equipped with a presser plate or movable up and down in the silo, through whicn a rod or cable passes ceutrallv and is secured at the top and bottom. means are carried by the platform which engage the cable and exert pressure upon the i, latform, the purpose being to compress the contents of the silo so that as far as ma 1 be the air is forced out, and no air pockets are ieft. The object of this invention is the special construction and arrangement of the cable or rod, the presser platform, and tie devices for engaging the cable to exert the pressure upon the platform, by which it is believed the fodder or other material packed in the silo may be sufficiently compressed to drive out the air as far as may be and to prevent the entrance of external moisture.

In the accompanying drawings the constrution and arrangement of the various parts of this invention are illustrated, and Figure 1 represents a view of a silo of common construction, shown partly in vertical section, to which this invention has been ap plied. Fig. 2 is a view of the presser platform from below, a central portion of the lower planking being broken away to disclose the clamp by means of which the platform is secured to the cable at different heights. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the presser platform, showing the screw jack in position. The cable is shown in cross-section in both Fig. 2 and Fig. 3. Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the channeled screw ark, showing the cable passing through the jack in the channel thereof. Fig. 5 is a vertical section of the roof or top of the silo, showing the means for securing the cable to the top.

Throughout the drawings and description, the same letter is used to refer to the same part.

Considering the drawings, the silo A has the bottom a to which the cable B is attached by means of an anchor b. The cable extends vertically in the silo, and its upper end may be secured to the eye I) in the roof or top as shown in Fig. 5. The line C indicates the ground level.

Within the silo is a presser platform comprising heavy upper and lower planking D and (Z on cross beams E.

Arranged against one of the middle beams is a stationary block 6, on one side of the cable, and on the other side is a like block F movable by means of the clamp screw f toward or from the cable. The blocks 6 and F are clamping blocks, and when the screw 7 is operated by means of the wrench G from the upper side of the presser platform through the opening 9, the platform is clamped to the cable.

Upon the upper side of the platform is placed a screw jack comprising the outer cylindrical and internally threaded member H, in practice provided with a broad, stout bot tom it which rests upon the upper side of the presser platform. The jack screw is marked J and it has ahead j, which is provided with number of sockets for the operating lever L.

Above the head of the jack screw is a clamp K having the screw ls andarranged to engage the cable B. The usual form of the clamp K is best set forth in Fig. 3. In Fig. 3 will be noted the opening or recess N in the clamp K to admit the cab e. The head 9' of the jack screw has also an opening 0 for the same purpose, that is to say, to admit the cable into the channel a, which extends the length of the screw, and is open at the side throughout its length. An extension of the open channel is provided in the bottom it and designated by the letter P in Fig. 3.

The silo A is provided with the customary vertical series of doors M, m, for the introduction and removal of materials at different levels. i

In the operation of this invention, the presser platform is raised to admit the, fodder or other material. Any common means or tackle may be employed to raise the platform. The tackle is not illustrated, as it is a matter of common knowledge and could be installed by any workman. \Vhen the fodder has been suitably packed in below the platform, the same is lowered upon it,

and pressure applied by turning the jack screw so that it bears against the top clamp K. When the desired compression has been attained, the screw f is turned, clamping the blocks e and F upon the cable and holding the platform in place upon the material in the silo. The platform may be thus secured to the cable at any height. In many large farms there are several silos, and the upper clamp K, as well as the screw jack may be removed from the cable and used in the same way in another silo.

Having now explained this invention, and also its mode of operation, what I claim is 1. In a silo press, the combination with a silo having a vertical series of doors, of a cable secured to the bottom and to the top of the silo and extending vertically therein, a presser platform, the said cable passing through the platform, means for securing the platform to the cable at diflerent heights in the silo, a screw jack having an axial channel, the said cable passing through the channel of the jack, the jack bearing upon the said platform, and a clamp engaging the cable above the jack against which the screw of the jack may bear when operated.

2.'In a silo press, the combination with a silo having a vertical series of doors, of a cable secured to the bottom and to the top of the silo and extending vertically therein, a presser platform, the said cable passing through the platform, means for securing the platform to the cable at different heights in the silo, a removable screw jack having an axial channel open lengthwise whereby the cable may pass into or out of the said axial channel of the jack, the said jack bearing upon the platform, and a clamp engaging the cable above the jack against which the screw of the jack may bear when operated.

3. In a silo press, the combination with a silo having a vertical series of doors, of a cable secured to the bottom and to the top of the silo and extending vertically therein, a presser platform, means for securing the platform to the cable at different heights in the silo, devices for operating the said securing means from the upper side of the platform, a screw jack having an axial channel, the said cable passing through the said channel of the jack, the said jack bearing upon the platform, and a clamp engaging the cable above the ack against which the screw of the jack may bear when operated.

4. In a silo press, the combination with a silo, of a cable secured to the bottom and to the top of the silo and extending vertically therein, a presser platform, the cable passing through the said platform, means for securing the platform to the cable at different heights in the silo, and devices arranged upon the upper side of the said platform and engaging the cable whereby pressure may be exerted upon the platform.

In testimony whereof I atfix my signature.

FRANCIS M. C. USHER. 

